Appliance for cleaning tarnished metals.



H. M. FETTERS. APPLIANCE FOR CLEANING TABNISHED METALS.

APPLICATION FILED DBO.18, 1912.

1,092,985, Patented Apr. 14, 1914.

fifmfifiifi Witnes ses Inventor Attorneys HENRY MILTON FET'IEBS, F LAPDRTE, INDIANA.

' QBLIANCE FOR CLEANING '1 Specification of Letters Patent.

= tenants.

' Patented Apr, tddfitd.

Application filed December 18, 1912. Serial No. 737,578.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, HENRY Mnzron Far TERS, a citizen of the UnitedStates resid-. ingat Laporte, in the county of fiaporte and State of Indiana, have invented a new and useful Appliance for Cleaning Tarnished Metals, of which the followingis a specification.

The present invention relates to an appliance for cleaning tarnished metal articles.

One of the objects of the present invention is toprovide a battery element of novel or unique construction.

Another object of this invention is to provide a novel applianceof the nature indicated which shall be as simple, durable, compact and inexpensive as possible, consistent with the maximum of efiiciency.

. This invention also contemplates the pro I duction of an appliance of the character in-' dicated which may be readily cleaned 0r scoured soas to remove the deposit or coating thereon due to the electrolytic action incident to the use of the appliance, and which may be readilyhandled or manipulated.

With the foregoing and other objectsin view which will appear as-the description proceeds, the invention resides in the combination and arrangement of parts and in the details of construction hereinafter described, and. claimed, it being understood that changes in the precise embodiment of invention erein disclosed can be made withv in the scope Eof what is claimed without departing from the spirit of the invention. 1 he invention has been illustrated in its preferred embodiment in the accompanying pliance, parts drawing, wherein I Figure 1 is a bottom view of the apbeihg broken away. Fig. 2 is a sectional view thereof, as in use.

' The improved appliance comprises two plates of suitable sheet metal, onebeing preferably fashioned from aluminum, and the other being preferably fashioned from zinc,

whereby the aluminum and zinc plates will be electro-negative and electro-positive with respect to one another, although, jointly, the two plates will form an electro positive or anode. These plates may be-of various contours, and proportions, the same being illustrated as circular or in the form 'of These platesor disks are secured together at their peripheries, one platapret erabl ,the aluminum one, havin a peripheral ange 5 bent over the perip cry of the other or zinc plate 4..

Y A ring-or annulus 6 of any suitable-metal or mater 1al is d sposed between the periphcries of the disks or plates so as to space them apart,'and it is preferable to dish or concave the zinc plate 4, in order that when the device is placed on the bottom of a receptacle, he zinc plate will contact with the bottom 0 the receptacle at its central portion only thus exposi the greater surface of the 2i 0 plate and iolding the flange 5 out of contact with the bottom of the receptacle. It is to be understpod, however,

that either of the plates may be provided with the flange 5, and either'of the plates may be dished-so as to seat on the bottom of the receptacle. z

Between the two plates, there is inserted or sandwiched a filling or layer .7 comprising a couted or finely granulated or pulverized mixture of aluminum and zinc, or either a mixture of c'omminuted zinc and salt, and a vehicle or hinder therefor "of plaster of Paris or its equivalent to hold the zinc and salt reasonably well mixed. This filling, as will be seen, embodies a com- .minuted anode similar to the anode plate a.

The particular mixture or quality of the mixture depends upon the use to which the appliance is to be put, or in other Words,

cle ends upon the strength of galvanic or preferably common table salt, or sodium chlorid NaGl. The immersion of the anode and. cathode plates will set up a galvanic orlvoltaic currentwithin the solution, and the hydrogen or constituents freed or liberated by the electrolytic action attack and remove or dissolve the oxid and sulfid or tarnish from the articles. This oxid or tarnish is quite rapidly removed and leaves the metal articles clear and bright without ateating o st p n t e m tal e to the 1 action adjoining the plates, be easily cleansed when not electrolytic" action. After the articles have I been properly cleansed they may be readily removed and dried in any convenient manner. No rubbing or polishing is necessary, and the electrolytic action is the sole action necessary to bring about the result desired.

The present appliance or battery element is adapted particularly for cleaning silverware, although it may be employed for cleaning nickel, gold and other metals.

The filling is advantageous, inasmuch as it serves to strengthen the galvanic current after the appliance has been in use for some time. his to be understood, therefore, that the quality of the filling 7 may be altered to suit the uses to which the appliance is to be put, or according to other circumstances.-

The peripheries of the plates being attached prevents the electrolyte from passing between the edges of-the plates and thus prevents local action and corrosion between the edges of the plates, as well as rotecting the filling from the action of the e ectrolyte. The plates in being in direct electricalcontactwill also reduce to a minimum the local and they may in use. It has been found in practice,.that the electrolytic action will cause a film like deposit or coating on the plates, but this may be readily removed with a damp cloth, or with ordinary baking soda if necessary, after the plates have been removed from ,the electrolytic solution. The plates might also be riveted or otherwise secured together instead of in the manner illustrated and described, but it is found in practice, that it the plates are not peripherally attached so as to exclude the electrolyte from between the edges of the plates, corrosion and local action sets up between the edge portions of the plates, which is disadvantageous. This method of securing the plates together also renders the cleansing of the plates convenient and also renders the device easy to manipulate. The disks being secured together in the manner defined, and containing the filling therebetween including the comminuted anode Q will provide a comparatively effective elec- 50' trolytic action or galvanic current, wherein the efiicieucy would be reduced if the plates were merely in contact but not secured to gcther as described. I

Inasmuch as the aluminum and zinc plates have only a comparatively small difference of electric potential, a weak current will be set up when the galvanic pair are immersed in the salt electrolyte, the galvanic current flowing from the aluminum plate through the electrolyte to the zinc plate. However, when the silver, or similar articles to be cleaned, are brought into contact with the aluminum plate, they having a greater ratio of electric potential with respect to the zinc plate than the aluminum plate, the silver articles will form an anode or electrounegae. tive with respect to each oifthe alunfiinrm; and zinc plates, and consequently, but very little current will flow from tliealuminum to the zinc plate, and a considerable current will flow from both the aluminum and zinc plates, to the silver articles. Thus, when the galvanic pair are submerged in the electro' lyte they will jointly serve as an anode or electropositive, while the silver or similar articles will serve'as the cathode, the hydrogen liberated attacking the oxid and sulfid deposited on the silver articles, so as to reduce the same. crues from the employment of aluminum and the zinc plates in combination, it being found in practice, that the aluminum plate will not corrode or become coated as quickly as the zinc plate, and consequently, thealnminnm plate will provide a more perfect contact for the articles to be cleaned. It has also been found in practice that theslight coating of the aluminum plate will not appreciably decrease the electrical contact of the metal articles with the aluminum plate, the coating also being readily removed by a damp cloth, which'is not possible with the zinc plate. In this connection, it is to be observed that the dished condition of the zinc plate will serve to support the aluminum plate above the bottom of the vessel, and furthermore, the peripheral portions of the zinc plate will be properly spaced above the bottom of the vessel so that they may be attacked by the electrolyte.

Either the aluminum or zinc plate may be employed separately, but it has been,

A further advantage acfound that either of the said plates when in contact with the article to be cleaned and immersed in the electrolyte, will result in a much weaker current, than if the two plates are combined and peripherally attached. It has also been found in practice that when either of the said plates is independently immersed, the chemical action or disintegration of the plate will be general throughout their surface, whereas if the two plates are combined, the corrosion of the zinc plate will be localized, in an annular zone adjoining the periphery of the aluminum plate which is flanged over the periphery of the zinc plate.

The filling between the two plates is of decided advantage, inasmuch as the electrolyte will flow through the plates as they corrode, and will attack the electropositive filling,-so as to increase the chemical action, and con equently, to increase the strength of the current. It has also been found, in practice, that as the zinc plate decomposes or corrodes. it will tend to lessen the galvanic cur rent and that the electrolyte will pass thropgh the zinc plate so as to attack the filling to intensify the current. The filling also serves to increase the life of the zinc plate. It is to be understood that the utility of the filling resides particularly in the fact cleaned. Y

thatthe. device, as awhole, serves as an anode or electropositive when the metal ar- 1 ticles are in contact with the aluminum plate. The employment of the filling, between the'two plates will therefore intensify the galvanic current, and asa result, the oxide and sulfids ivill be more readily or quickly dissolved from the articles to be The plates may be employed in connection with any suitable vessel, and the silverware. or other metal articles will becleansed if they are brought into direct contact therewith, or into the electrical connection with the plates, by touching one another.

What is claimed is i- 1. An appliance for cleaning tarnished metal articles comprising peripherally attached electropositive plates, and an electropositive filling therebetween.

2. An appliance for cleaning tarnished.

metal articles, comprising a pair of electropositive plates, the periphery of'one being i flanged over the peripheryof the otherJand an electropositive filling between the plates; 3. An appliance for cleaning tarnished metal. articles, comprising peripherally at tached electropostive plates, and an electropositive filling therebetween, one of the plates being dished so to seaten the bottom of a vessel to space the peripheries of the plates thereabove.

4 An appliance for cleaning tarnished metal articles, comprising a pair of superposed electropositive plates; the marginal portion of the upper plate being flanged over the margin of the lower plate; the lower plate being dished to seat on the bottom of a vessel so as to space the margins of the plates thereabove, and an electroposilive filling between the plates.

In testimon that I claim the foregoing as my own, have hereto affixed my signature in the pafienee of two witnesses.

HENRY MILTON FETTERS.

Witnesses? JAMES F. KELLY, LOUISE WENDE. 

